Australian Influencer Faces Serious Charges in Baby Poisoning Case

A 34-year-old Australian influencer has been charged with poisoning her infant daughter in what police allege was a scheme to solicit donations while boosting her online following. The mother, from the Sunshine Coast region near Brisbane, purportedly documented her one-year-old child's supposed battle with a terminal illness on social media. Investigators claim she was drugging the child and filming her during episodes of significant distress.

The troubling case came to light when the baby was hospitalized in October due to a serious medical crisis. Medical professionals raised concerns, prompting a police investigation that began on October 15. Detectives allege that over a span of several months, the mother administered various medications to her child without any medical authorization, going so far as to use leftover prescriptions from others in her home to conceal her actions.

After a thorough investigation, the woman was charged with multiple offenses, including torture and fraud, following the revelation that she allegedly raised approximately A$60,000 (around $37,300) on the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe under false pretenses. Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton described the alleged offenses as "repulsive," emphasizing the severity of the situation.

As police continue their inquiries, the influencer is scheduled to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court. The crime has shocked the local community and raised awareness about the potential dangers of social media exploitation.